Featured Large Capped Bust Quarters

Two new arrivals this month, an 1820 B-1 and an 1821 B-5. Both die marriages are rated as R4 (“very scarce,” 76-200 extant), but I don’t really agree with 1820 B-1 being rated R4. I went through eBay yesterday and there were twelve 1820 B-1’s for sale (out of 46 1820 quarters), so maybe R2 or R3 is a bit more appropriate. Regardless of how scarce the die marriages are, both coins are eye appealing original coins.

1820 B-1 (Large 0), “R4,” PCGS G6:




1821 B-5, R4, NGC VG8:



As an aside, I now have all three major varieties for 1820 (Large 0, Medium 0, and Small 0), so that’s pretty neat.

 

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This past week another tough bust quarter arrived in the mail. This time it’s an 1818 B-9, graded VG8 by PCGS.



1818 B-9 is the toughest die marriage for the year, and the die state with the arrowhead clashes above the cap on the obverse is especially popular with collectors. Unfortunately this coin is an earlier die state before the arrowhead clashes formed, but it’s still a welcome addition to my collection. Maybe someday I’ll get an example with the clashes.

The reverse die was first used to strike B-7, during which the crack through the N in UNITED began to develop. The reverse was then used to strike B-9. As more B-9’s were struck, the crack developed further. The reverse was then used to strike more B-7’s with the heavy die crack present.

 

I have been putting together a set of the 1815 and 1825 Bust quarters with the "E" and "L" counterstamps.

Anyone have any info on these?

 

I suggest picking up Steve Tompkins' Early Bust Quarters book. That's the best source of info for the E and L quarters that you can find.

http://www.earlyunitedstatescoins.c...uarters_1796-1838_-_by_Steve_M._Tompkins.html

 

Thank you. I certainly will!

 

+1 on the Steve Tompkins book. It’s probably my favorite numismatic book.

 

Here’s the latest addition to my collection, an 1825/4/2 B-2 (R2) bust quarter:

1825/4/2, B-2, R2, PCGS VG8


All 1825 quarters are technically 1825/4/2, and two obverse dies and three reverse dies were used to strike three die marriages. This B-2 was the last of the three die marriages that I needed for 1825. Below are the other two, for reference.

1825/4/2, B-1, R5, PCGS G6


1825/4/2, B-3, R3, NGC G4

 

You should be proud of that set. Very nice! Thanks for posting!